# Central PA Dopefest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935 "2004-04-02T18:45:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/101 "2004-04-25T02:28:30Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I’ll do even better than that. . .I’ll bring. . ._her father_!! Father says he reserves the right to bring a baseball bat 😃 . He can bring the 1927 Yankees (in their primes, not in the cemetary) if he likes. ---
**Author:** ![Pandora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pandora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandora)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/102 "2004-04-28T12:38:57Z")
Sorry for the late entry (I was out of town) Unfortunately, I probably cannot do the 19th, as it is currently scheduled to be family reunion weekend for the thundering hordes that make up my extended family. However, there had been some talk of switching reunion weekends to make things easier for some cousins from British Columbia. For now, I’m probably a no, but if the reunion gets moved, I’ll pop back in a beg a ride from someone coming from this area. -Pandora (And thanks to **Scuba\_Ben** for making sure I saw this thread, I appreciate it.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/103 "2004-04-28T14:37:01Z")
Who would like to carpool from the eastern Pittsburgh/ Laurel Highlands area? I’d like to work something out to save a little gas, and to meet and talk on the trip. The Steelerphan family will be going, anywhere from just the mrs. and me to our two sons, who can’t really be called just “boys” anymore. So, if you’re in the Westmoreland/Indiana/Cambria county area, or east toward Gettysburg, and you want a ride or to pool, let me know. Or, if you are farther west and would like to park your car and join the crowd, that’s cool too. I may rent a van if there is enough interest. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/104 "2004-04-28T15:10:49Z")
I don’t know. I’ll actually still be in the state, and I’ll have a car, but it’d be weird meeting a bunch of strangers thanks to the Internet. Honestly (and no offense intended), it seems a little creepy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/105 "2004-04-28T15:38:38Z")
What’s so creepy about it, **asterion?** I met \*\*Siege, Guinastasia, HideoHo, samclem, \*\* and others at a Mini-Dope held at a park north of Pittsburgh. It was a fun picnic- we marveled at the huge amount of goose guano on the grounds, and talked about the board and some of the currrent issues being discussed here. It was no different to me than a family reunion with a family you just married into, or a sci-fi convention. (Well, maybe not as weird.) You may feel “creepy” by the vibe that the media puts out- that all the people on the Internet are stalkers waiting to lure children away to be sex slaves or worse. Every story about Internet crime reaches the national news, it seems, and the perception of danger when meeting strangers is reinforced by each story. Now, if you were a 13-year old girl, and someone wanted you to meet tham at a mall parking lot or a truck stop from an Internet conversation, you would be within your rights to be creeped out. We will be meeting in a public park, in a very public place with Park Police nearby and hopefully many Dopers there to watch out for each other. If you feel comfortable enough to post here, why not meet some of your fellow posters under friendly conditions? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/106 "2004-04-28T16:06:34Z")
> [@Steelerphan](#): > > What’s so creepy about it, asterion? > > I met Siege, Guinastasia, HideoHo, samclem, and others at a Mini-Dope held at a park north of Pittsburgh. It was a fun picnic- we marveled at the huge amount of goose guano on the grounds, and talked about the board and some of the currrent issues being discussed here. It was no different to me than a family reunion with a family you just married into, or a sci-fi convention. (Well, maybe not as weird.) Well, maybe creepy was a bad choice of words. As I said, I don’t mean to insult anyone. It’s just that the idea seems–well, odd is probably a better choice of words. Meeting a bunch of complete strangers for a somewhat personal meeting with no ties other than a cyberspace community. > [@Steelerphan](#): > > You may feel “creepy” by the vibe that the media puts out- that all the people on the Internet are stalkers waiting to lure children away to be sex slaves or worse. Every story about Internet crime reaches the national news, it seems, and the perception of danger when meeting strangers is reinforced by each story. > > Now, if you were a 13-year old girl, and someone wanted you to meet tham at a mall parking lot or a truck stop from an Internet conversation, you would be within your rights to be creeped out. I don’t believe in that vibe one bit, and I’ve been on BBSes, Usenet, and the Internet a long time. Going out and talking to complete strangers is just generally not something I do, is all. I learned long ago to take any conversations and anything you learned about someone else that you can’t see with somewhere between a grain and a truckload of salt, seeing as how the complete anonymity of the net does allow for personas, is all. > [@Steelerphan](#): > > We will be meeting in a public park, in a very public place with Park Police nearby and hopefully many Dopers there to watch out for each other. If you feel comfortable enough to post here, why not meet some of your fellow posters under friendly conditions? As I said, I might have spent a lot of time in virtual communities, but it still feels kinda weird considering taking that into a RL meeting. Tell you what, though. If I can get away from school and research that weekend, I’ll drive out there. I can’t make any promises, however, because summer research (and research in general) is not exactly an 8-5 M-F job. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/107 "2004-04-28T16:37:31Z")
Well, if you do decide to come, everyone will be glad to see you. Right, everyone? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/108 "2004-04-28T16:45:53Z")
> [@Steelerphan](#): > > Well, if you do decide to come, everyone will be glad to see you. Right, everyone? > > 🙂 Well, I know _I_ will. 🙂 Robin ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/109 "2004-04-28T19:38:35Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > It’s just that the idea seems–well, odd is probably a better choice of words. Meeting a bunch of complete strangers for a somewhat personal meeting with no ties other than a cyberspace community. Is it any different than the first day of class or starting a new job? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/110 "2004-04-28T20:51:25Z")
Well, **asterion** , I know _I’d_ be glad to meet you. I’ve been to several Maryland DopeFests, and they’re bunches of fun! One of the things that _makes_ them fun, IMHO, is exactly that you’ve only known these folks in cyberspace before. You get to see if any of your impressions of what they look like are on the money; you get “more” of them than you do on the boards (I’m probably doing a really bad job of explaining). Anyway, I really love DopeFests, but I guess these things aren’t for everyone. Still, I hope you decide to give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/111 "2004-04-29T16:50:14Z")
I’ll go, since it’s at most going to be a five hour car trip and me and the Green Geek Mobile love car trips. I have room for 3 riders for Pittsburgh area Dopers or those who need picked up along the way. Just send me an email or an IM or something and let me know, and I’ll clear out the car, no problem there. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/112 "2004-04-29T17:30:43Z")
So was a date and place set? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/113 "2004-04-29T17:51:13Z")
Saturday, June 19 at the picnic grounds near the Cyclorama. Someone will be along to give better directions. Robin ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/114 "2004-04-30T04:26:30Z")
The bf and I will come. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/115 "2004-04-30T12:03:22Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > The bf and I will come. Yay! I never met the bf before! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/116 "2004-04-30T12:34:18Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > The bf and I will come. Hooray! Now, are you sure you won’t have more fun without him? I mean, he might get jealous of you being my boyfriend and all. ---
**Author:** ![fizzestothetop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@fizzestothetop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzestothetop)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/117 "2004-04-30T12:52:07Z")
**punha** and I are coming but I don’t know what sort of food thing to bring (I don’t know why he suggested ice cream, it’s not like that travels well). I thought about making a checkerboard cake but it’s tall so I don’t think it’d like being in the car for too long. Someone else is bringing cookies I think. Maybe I should make something that isn’t desserty…ack. You’d think with the 50 million cookbooks in the kitchen I’d be able to come up with _something_ to bring. Anybody have any suggestions? **gobear** Do you and your bf wanna ride up with **pun** , **dwalin** and I? ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/118 "2004-04-30T15:55:09Z")
Does anyone in the Pittsburgh, Uniontown, Greensburg, Morgantown or points east along I-70 or 76 need a ride? Room for 3 and no charge for gas here. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/119 "2004-04-30T21:54:08Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by fizzestothetop_ > Anybody have any suggestions? Well, what about some pasta salad or potato salad? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935/120 "2004-05-01T01:58:41Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Well, what about some pasta salad or potato salad? **supervenusfreak** and I are bringing pasta salad. I think someone did say they were bringing potato salad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-pa-dopefest/237935.md?page=7)